How to Improve Eyesight With Yoga
One of the most important, but oft-neglected aspects of body fitness is eye health. The eyes are windows to a person’s soul. If this is true, then it is absolutely important to take look into its health and fitness from time to time. Invariably, after a certain age, a person’ eyes undergo negative changes. This can be delayed or prevented, depending on the case and the issue on hand.
A regular eye-exercise regime could strengthen the eyes and keep them fit and fine as we age. An important aspect of eye health (in yoga) is cleansing. Techniques are taught just to cleanse the eyes and the passages surrounding them. One such cleansing practice is called “trataka” or “uninterrupted gaze”.
This technique is usually taught using a candle flame. Recently, however, it is becoming accepted to gaze at any object of one’s choice such as favorite picture (with positive connotations) or a flower and so on. In the instance of the candle flame, one’s gaze is directed to the center of the candle with complete awareness of the flickering nature of it. The gaze, however, is to be kept steady and the eyelids, to be kept open, for as long as possible without blinking. This practice, done for about ten minutes, stimulates the tear glands and inducing tearing. This process inevitably has a cleansing effect on the eyes. It also gives the fringe benefit of improved concentration and better focus on the job on hand, whatever that may be.
Eye exercises as well can be taught as part of a regular asana practice. Eye rotations and rapid eye movements (without moving the head) focused on moving objects, such as one’s thumb can be practiced. These asana have to be taught by an experienced yoga teacher. If there are specific eye problems that need to be corrected through the practice of yoga, a doctor has to give you the go ahead first. These practices work for general eye health. However, specific problems related to the eyes or eyesight have to be diagnosed and addressed with the appropriate practices.
Trataka is a great practice for relaxing the mind. Often, mental stress, headaches and eyestrain are all somehow connected. Therefore, any practice that can address the stress and relax the eyes at the same time would be ideal. Trataka is a good example of such a practice.
The eyes can be kept healthy with a regular practice of certain yogic techniques. It has been said that people have put away their spectacles or lenses after a few months dedicated yogic eye exercises.
Sources: www.yogapoint.com/Hatha_yoga/trataka.htm